I keep smelling ammonia

[ufkacbln]

Riverman... perhaps you've reached that age when you need discrete absorbant pads? [Joking aside, my dad has, he uses the equivalent of a pant liner which avoids spills.]

NOT TO CAUSE A PANIC!

Unfortunately the dribbling and urinary problems may simply be age, but can also be a sign of a number of benign problems, but also Prostate Cancer.

To quote one Prostate Cancer Charity The PDF onthis page is worth reading.

What changes should I look out for?

The main types of prostate problem are:

* a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate called Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) – this is the most common prostate problem
* inflammation or infection of the prostate (prostatitis)
* prostate cancer

Each of these prostate problems can cause similar symptoms. These may include:

* A weak or reduced urine flow
* Needing to urinate more often, especially at night
* A feeling that your bladder has not emptied properly
* Difficulty starting to pass urine
* Dribbling urine
* Needing to rush to the toilet – you may occasionally leak urine before you get there

Less common symptoms include:

* Pain when passing urine
* Pain when ejaculating
* Pain in the testicles

Some men with prostate cancer may have no symptoms at all.

If you have any of these symptoms, you should visit your GP to find out what is causing the problem.

We see lots of "stoic gentlemen" who have never been to a GP in the last ten years and have just put the problems down to age and accept.

Then when they eventually present the Prostate problem is advanced and often with metastatic spread.

As mentioned elsewhere - see a GP if you are having problems, especially at "that age".

 

[paraffinlamps]

I`d go along with threefinger joe .
Breathable/technical fabric can sometimes smell funny (normally after it has been washed a few times ) if you sweat a fair bit and can leave the smell on your skin .I`ve noticed it after long runs and cycling if I`m wet from sweat .The odd thing is it doesn`t happen all the time .Next time you can smell it try having a good smell of your top see if it`s that.

 

[Alan Whicker]

When I go to anywhere really hot (like North Africa) and I sweat much more than normal, I seem to smell acidy/vinegary. Lovely. Nobody else has ever mentioned it, so maybe only I can smell it.

 

[jimboalee]

http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/news/article.asp?UAN=2029

Have a read of this.

There's nowt to worry about. Lots of us smell of cat's piss.

 

[Fab Foodie]

http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/news/article.asp?UAN=2029

Have a read of this.

There's nowt to worry about. Lots of us smell of cat's piss.

Mmmmm
That's probably why I only notice the smell while IN the shower and at no other time.

 

[Crankarm]

Mmmmm
That's probably why I only notice the smell while IN the shower and at no other time.

Is that because Mrs FF has been cleaning the shower ready for you ?

 

[rusky]

Mmmmm
That's probably why I only notice the smell while IN the shower and at no other time.

Hmmm, I just put it down to the cat peeing in the bath!

 

[Zippy]

You haven't been trying to unstick a stuck aluminium seat post with ammonia by any chance? Just a thought!

 

[Jonathan M]

After a ride I seem to be able to smell ammonia. It's almost like an acid like smell.

I've had my kidneys and liver tested and they've come back negative. I've also been tested for diabetes.

Anyone any idea what may be causing this? I've been told that it may be because my body is going into ketosis?

When after? Immediatley after? Several hours later? Is it you, your breath, a general odour round and about?

My first thoughts about this were that you are not washing your kit promptly, leaving it to fester and then either reusing the same kit, or washing it (but not properly). I have on occasion been too knackered to throw my MTB kit in the wash after a long day out, leaving it in my kit bag, result is a stench of ammonia that takes more than 1 wash to clear.

I've never known ammonia smell be evidence of ketosis - I work as a diabetes nurse and ketones (if you can smell them, not everyone can) are a fruity "pear drops" smell. Ketosis would also be more likely if you existed on a zero/near zero carb diet a la Atkins, rather thyan through exercise.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Is that because Mrs FF has been cleaning the shower ready for you ?

Lady FF doesn't clean the shower! She has a maid for that...

 

[Cubist]

Mmmmm
That's probably why I only notice the smell while IN the shower and at no other time.

I get that. Is it more of a smell at the back of the nostrils rather than an obvious odour, as if it's coming from your body? It only happens after a really hard session, and I only ever smell it in the shower.(not sure it's an amonia smell though, I think it smells more of stale vegetables.) Can't help you with the cause, but I guess it's a metabolic process of some sort.

 

[Fab Foodie]

I get that. Is it more of a smell at the back of the nostrils rather than an obvious odour, as if it's coming from your body? It only happens after a really hard session, and I only ever smell it in the shower.(not sure it's an amonia smell though, I think it smells more of stale vegetables.) Can't help you with the cause, but I guess it's a metabolic process of some sort.

Very much as you describe, though as I tend to breath through my mouth, then I'd 'smell' it first at the back of my nostrils whether from exhalation of breath or an inhalation of oudour from outside. I had wondered whether it was a reaction between certain shower gels and sweat metabolites releasing ammonia from urea in sweat.
Whatever it is, I'm glad I'm not the only one!

 

[Perfect Virgo]

I wear Under Armour compression shorts and vest for running (and occasionally under my cycling jersey for warmth). I too have noticed a very sour smell on me and on the clothing whether I have been running in heat or sub-zero (so it doesn't seem to matter how much I sweat). If I sweat at a time when I'm not wearing the compression gear my sweat smells natural so I believe, at least for me, it has to do with the fabric. I have read elsewhere that these modern synthetic "wicking" fabrics can be prone to that.

 

[Cubist]

I wear Under Armour compression shorts and vest for running (and occasionally under my cycling jersey for warmth). I too have noticed a very sour smell on me and on the clothing whether I have been running in heat or sub-zero (so it doesn't seem to matter how much I sweat). If I sweat at a time when I'm not wearing the compression gear my sweat smells natural so I believe, at least for me, it has to do with the fabric. I have read elsewhere that these modern synthetic "wicking" fabrics can be prone to that.

Polyester is particularly bad for it.

 

[Riverman]

This smell has persisted and I've come to the conclusion that it's probably muscle being burned. This leaves me with a bit of a dilemma i.e.- how to burn fat without triggering muscle burn? The last thing I want to do is eat more carbs. Would eating plenty protein prior to exercise reduce the amount of muscle burn during exercise? Or is there anything else I could do to reduce it?